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| Berlin truck crash: 'suspicious person' arrested after nine killed at Christmas market – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.22pm GMT | |
| 21:22 | |
| Julian Borger | |
| This from our World Affairs editor Julian Borger: | |
| The attack was reminiscent of the massacre in Nice in July, where a Tunisian-born French resident, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, drove a 19-tonne truck down the city’s Promenade des Anglais into a crowd that had gathered for a Bastille Day firework display, killing 86 and injuring hundreds. | |
| French authorities said that Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, had been inspired by Isis propaganda, but they say no evidence has been found that Isis orchestrated the attack. | |
| 9.18pm GMT | |
| 21:18 | |
| Berlin police say the passenger in the truck, previously described as a “co-driver,” was the one who died. | |
| Nothing is known about their identity. | |
| The passenger of the truck, who drove to the Christmas market at #Breitscheidplatz, died on the spot. | |
| 9.16pm GMT | |
| 21:16 | |
| Stefanie Bolzen, the London correspondent for German publication WELT, points out that Marcus Pretzell, a German politician and member of the European Parliament, has called those who died at the Berlin Christmas market “Merkel’s dead.” | |
| Pretzell is the regional head of AfD, Alternative for Germany, the hard right-wing party that is anti-immigration. | |
| Only minutes after alleged attack: MEP and regional head of AfD Marcus Pretzell calls victims at #Berlin #Breitscheidplatz "Merkel's dead" https://t.co/V3MEnzyabY | |
| 9.13pm GMT | |
| 21:13 | |
| Berlin police have begun tweeting in English, noting that the “background” of the Christmas market incident is still unclear. Police also highlight that it is unknown if the person arrested was a driver of the truck. | |
| Police note that the LKA, short for Landeskriminalamt, the state criminal police office, is investigating the incident and that there are “no indications of future dangerous situations” in the city. | |
| The background is still unclear. Our #LKA takes the investigations. #Breitscheidplatz | |
| A suspicious person was arrested near #Breitscheidplatz. Whether it is the driver of the truck, is currently under consideration. | |
| Currently, there are no indications of further dangerous situations in the city near #Breitscheidplatz. | |
| 9.11pm GMT | |
| 21:11 | |
| Fran Lawther | |
| The lorry belongs to a Polish haulage company and is registered in Gdansk, according to local media reports. The owner of the company, named only as Ariel Z, gave an interview to Polish radio TVN24 on Monday evening, saying his cousin had been travelling to Berlin in the lorry. He wanted to spend the night in the city, Ariel said, adding he could not imagine his cousin causing the crash as he had had 15 years’ experience driving lorries. | |
| 9.10pm GMT | |
| 21:10 | |
| Berlin correspondent Kate Connolly notes that off-duty doctors across Berlin are being brought in to tend to the many injured. | |
| 9.06pm GMT | |
| 21:06 | |
| Fran Lawther | |
| The German interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, told reporters: | |
| My thoughts are with the relatives of the victims and those injured in this terrible incident. I am in constant contact with the security forces in Berlin and have offered them every possible assistance from the federal police. | |
| 9.03pm GMT | |
| 21:03 | |
| Kate Connolly | |
| This in from Berlin correspondent Kate Connolly | |
| Police have said the juggernaut which crashed into the Xmas market had Polish number plates and belonged to a Polish delivery company. The company said the truck left Poland this afternoon heading to Berlin and that they lost touch with the driver at 4pm local time. It would appear that the lorry might have been hijacked. | |
| 8.58pm GMT | |
| 20:58 | |
| Fran Lawther | |
| Berlin’s mayor, Michael Müller, reacted with shock at the attack. He said police had the situation under control, adding: “What we are witnessing here is dramatic. My thoughts are with the families, who are grieving over someone dead or injured.” | |
| 8.56pm GMT | |
| 20:56 | |
| Facebook launched a “safety check” for users in Berlin to “check in” and confirm they are safe, following the Christmas market truck crash. | |
| 8.53pm GMT | |
| 20:53 | |
| Berlin police continued to ask residents to stay away from the area, tweeting: | |
| We need all rescue routes. Please do not come to #Breitscheidplatz. Please keep the streets clear for us. #thank you | |
| Wir brauchen vor Ort alle Rettungswege. Bitte kommen Sie nicht zum #Breitscheidplatz. Bitte halten Sie die Straßen für uns frei. #danke. | |
| 8.51pm GMT | |
| 20:51 | |
| Fran Lawther | |
| Wolfgang Bosbach, an MP with the Christian Democrats, Angela Merkel’s party, told media: | |
| Although there is a host of unanswered questions, indications are it was a deliberate attack, carried out not just with the greatest brutality and disastrous consequences but also with a deliberate symbolism. Just a few days before Christmas, in the middle of the German capital and amidst happy, peaceful people.The message is clear: no matter where, no matter how, we can pounce at any time. | |
| 8.47pm GMT | 8.47pm GMT |
| 20:47 | 20:47 |
| A co-driver of the truck that plowed into the Berlin Christmas market died during the crash, a police spokesman said on N24 television, according to Reuters. | A co-driver of the truck that plowed into the Berlin Christmas market died during the crash, a police spokesman said on N24 television, according to Reuters. |
| The other suspected driver was arrested near the scene, the AP reports. | The other suspected driver was arrested near the scene, the AP reports. |
| 8.44pm GMT | 8.44pm GMT |
| 20:44 | 20:44 |
| Police arrest suspected driver | Police arrest suspected driver |
| German Police have arrested the suspected driver of the truck that rammed the Christmas market in Berlin, leaving nine dead, according to a police spokesman on N24 television, Reuters reports. | German Police have arrested the suspected driver of the truck that rammed the Christmas market in Berlin, leaving nine dead, according to a police spokesman on N24 television, Reuters reports. |
| 8.38pm GMT | 8.38pm GMT |
| 20:38 | 20:38 |
| Berlin police is calling on residents to stay at home and to not “spread rumors” about the truck crash at the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market. | Berlin police is calling on residents to stay at home and to not “spread rumors” about the truck crash at the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market. |
| The police tweeted: | The police tweeted: |
| “Please help us. Stay home and do not spread rumors. Follow us here for important information.” | “Please help us. Stay home and do not spread rumors. Follow us here for important information.” |
| Bitte helfen Sie uns. Bleiben Sie zu Hause & verbreiten Sie keine Gerüchte. Folgen Sie uns hier für wichtige Infosl. #Breitscheidplatz | Bitte helfen Sie uns. Bleiben Sie zu Hause & verbreiten Sie keine Gerüchte. Folgen Sie uns hier für wichtige Infosl. #Breitscheidplatz |
| It is still unclear if the event was an accident or a deliberate attack. | It is still unclear if the event was an accident or a deliberate attack. |
| 8.31pm GMT | 8.31pm GMT |
| 20:31 | 20:31 |
| The Guardian’s Berlin bureau chief, Philip Oltermann, is on the scene. | The Guardian’s Berlin bureau chief, Philip Oltermann, is on the scene. |
| Truck that burst into side of Christmas market at Breitscheidtplatz, in front of Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church pic.twitter.com/bbXEcrUJAv | Truck that burst into side of Christmas market at Breitscheidtplatz, in front of Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church pic.twitter.com/bbXEcrUJAv |
| 8.25pm GMT | 8.25pm GMT |
| 20:25 | 20:25 |
| Kate Connolly | Kate Connolly |
| From Kate Connolly, the Guardian’s Berlin correspondent | From Kate Connolly, the Guardian’s Berlin correspondent |
| According to latest news reports in Berlin a lorry plowed into a Christmas market this evening, driving over a pavement and crashing into market stalls and knocking people over. The market is one of Berlin’s most popular, on Breitscheidplatz in the western centre of the city. | According to latest news reports in Berlin a lorry plowed into a Christmas market this evening, driving over a pavement and crashing into market stalls and knocking people over. The market is one of Berlin’s most popular, on Breitscheidplatz in the western centre of the city. |
| Police say the lorry came from the direction of Budapester Straße, over the pavement, coming to a halt by a Christmas tree in front of the Gedächtnis Kirche, or Memorial Church. Known locally as the jagged tooth, the church was bombed in World War II, and left more or less in its ruined state as a memorial to the victims war. It’s one of the most popular tourist sites in Berlin, and very close to the popular Berlin Zoo. | Police say the lorry came from the direction of Budapester Straße, over the pavement, coming to a halt by a Christmas tree in front of the Gedächtnis Kirche, or Memorial Church. Known locally as the jagged tooth, the church was bombed in World War II, and left more or less in its ruined state as a memorial to the victims war. It’s one of the most popular tourist sites in Berlin, and very close to the popular Berlin Zoo. |
| Police have cleared the area and volunteers have set up an information point for relatives looking for news of missing loved ones. | Police have cleared the area and volunteers have set up an information point for relatives looking for news of missing loved ones. |
| 8.25pm GMT | 8.25pm GMT |
| 20:25 | 20:25 |
| Nine people have now died and “many” are injured after a truck rammed a Christmas market in Berlin, police have just confirmed. | Nine people have now died and “many” are injured after a truck rammed a Christmas market in Berlin, police have just confirmed. |
| It’s not immediately clear if the incident was an accident or some kind of terrorist attack. | It’s not immediately clear if the incident was an accident or some kind of terrorist attack. |
| The market is outside the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in Breitscheidplatz, across the road from the Berlin Zoo and in the middle of a retail and hotel district. | The market is outside the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in Breitscheidplatz, across the road from the Berlin Zoo and in the middle of a retail and hotel district. |
| The US state department issued a warning in late November for Europe that “credible information” for terror attacks at Christmas related events, including markets, by the Islamic State, al-Qaida and affiliates. | The US state department issued a warning in late November for Europe that “credible information” for terror attacks at Christmas related events, including markets, by the Islamic State, al-Qaida and affiliates. |
| “The Department of State alerts US citizens to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season. US citizens should exercise caution at holiday festivals, events, and outdoor markets,” it read. | “The Department of State alerts US citizens to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season. US citizens should exercise caution at holiday festivals, events, and outdoor markets,” it read. |
| “Credible information indicates the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil or Da’esh), al-Qaida, and their affiliates continue to plan terrorist attacks in Europe, with a focus on the upcoming holiday season and associated events,” it continued. | “Credible information indicates the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil or Da’esh), al-Qaida, and their affiliates continue to plan terrorist attacks in Europe, with a focus on the upcoming holiday season and associated events,” it continued. |
| Last year a ban on suitcases and backpacks was implemented in Berlin’s Christmas markets after fears the Yuletide-tradition would become a terrorist target. Germany hosts around 1,500 Christmas markets every year. | Last year a ban on suitcases and backpacks was implemented in Berlin’s Christmas markets after fears the Yuletide-tradition would become a terrorist target. Germany hosts around 1,500 Christmas markets every year. |
| We will be updating this post with more information as it comes | We will be updating this post with more information as it comes |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.28pm GMT | at 8.28pm GMT |